Roy's Peak

[strangi17]

Introducing my new course, Roy's Peak.



A fictional par 70 course, measuring in at 6519 metres or 7129 yards from the black tees, the course is set in the mountains above Wanaka, New Zealand, and alongside one of NZ's most famous walks, Roy's Peak. Roy's Peak features a variety of template holes which will challenge all golfers, as will the elevation changes of the mountain setting. Above the tree line, only select grasses and scrub sporadically grow, and after your round you can stay in the mountain resort, or in the cabins that litter the landscape.



To crank up the challenge, play in decent winds. Play in high winds at maximum, because you will need to play perfectly to reach some greens in regulation. A southerly wind provides the stiffest challenge, and of course the coldest breeze, giving you some very long uphill par fours.



For an added challenge, have a go at the Roy's Peak Extreme 19th, situated off the side of the 1st hole.

I'm still new to these forums and think I've finally figured out how to post photos, etc etc, so will follow with a wee hole by hole guide to the course. Hope you enjoy.

Huge shout out to Chris Schoemann and Tim Herger, two people who helped massively with their feedback in testing this course while I was putting it together. Legends.

[strangi17]

Hole 1 - Par 4 Narrows (White 391m, Blue 367m, Black 373m)

A straight forward hole to start, with the decision of how much of the hole you wish to chew off. Out of bounds greet you on both sides which add to the risk, in the big gullies. With a big tail wind, the green is actually reachable.

Hole 2 - Par 3 Redan - ish (White 178m, Blue 187m, Black 196m)

Heading back the other way, and across the gully, is a redan hole. It probably doesn't have quite the right traditional redan slope the whole way, but it's certainly of the redan ilk.

Hole 3 - Par 4 (White 453m, Blue 483m, Black 471m)

A bunker left of the fairway challenges the golfer given it protects the best line to the green. Slide too far right and a large boulder can blind your view of the green, protected by two large bunkers at the front.



Hole 4 - Par 5 Switchback (White 506m, Blue 508m, Black 537m)

A semi-blind tee shot shouldn't find trouble, but should be shaped right to left to keep it from rolling down the big slope and allow a better angle on the second. Shaping it the other way into the green and allowing the slope to bring it around will allow you to attack the pin.

Hole 5 - Par 4 Dogleg leg left (White 317m, Blue 326m, Black 350m)

Short, but sharply up the mountain, this hole can be drivable with the right wind on the shorter White or Blue tees. Do you take on the many bunkers protecting the fairway, or lay up with a three wood.

Hole 6 - Par 5 Reverse Switchback (White 517m, Blue 536m, Black 539m)

This time, the hole is there for all to see as you start perched on the mountainside. Shaping your tee shot from left to right will have you in good position to bring your second back the other way, and into the green which is aided by a big right to left slope.



Hole 7 - Par 4 (White 374m, Blue 410m, Black 430m)

Back up the mountain, this hole tests precision off the tee. Stray from the fairway and the green won't be possible in two. Accuracy is key on this hole.

Hole 8 - Par 3 Mountain's edge (White 127m, Blue 126m, Black 154m)

With views of the township in the background, this hole is perched precariously on the edge of the mountain. You must carry to the green, or it's near impossible to get the ball to stop on the putting surface with it all sloping away, forcing a ballsy shot with the cliffside teetering nearby.

Hole 9 - Par 4 Split (White 424m, Blue 443m, Black 445m)

Pin position plays a crucial role here. Pins 2 or 4 dictate taking a riskier line, the left side of the split fairway, otherwise access over the front bunkers can be near impossible. But you be the judge.



Hole 10 - Par 4 (White 392m, Blue 406m, Black 436m)

The second nine starts with a tee shot over the gully. Your positioning on the fairway is important, because of a green complex which asks a lot of your accuracy. Beware the out of bounds left, at the range.

Hole 11 - Par 3 The Restaurant (White 141m, Blue 157m, Black 178m)

Find the right tier, or you could be in deep trouble. If anything, be below the hole.

Hole 12 - Par 4 The Dam (White 369m, Blue 384m, Black 392m)

A big dogleg right, this hole can be driven in the right winds. But the dam is out of bounds. There are two safer options: A 3 wood over the fairway bunker gives you a blind wedge into the punchbowl green, while a 5 or 6 iron short of the bunker gives you anything from a 9 iron to a 5 iron, fully sighted.



Hole 13 - Par 5 Split (White 493m, Blue 497m, Black 516m)

Another split fairway, but with more danger to negotiate. If you take the left side, you have out of bounds down the cliff to think about, but a possible 7 iron, or less, into the green on a good day.

Hole 14 - Par 4 (White 393m, Blue 415m, Black 426m)

For the final time, you track up the mountain. The cliff side and out of bounds threaten to the left, and two fairway bunkers to the right, so accuracy off the tee is key.

Hole 15 - Par 3 Biarritz (White 161m, Blue 171m, Black 185m)

Nestled into the hillside is a subtle Biarritz par 3 hole as we start to head home. A wee slope at the front can surprise and kick balls long, into the middle of the Biarritz.



Hole 16 - Par 4 Alps - (White 449m, Blue 460m, Black 459m)

Another hole that really tests accuracy. Hitting through a small canyon, two fairway bunkers line the right side of the narrow fairway. Negotiate them and a blind second into the punchbowl green, protected by a lone bunker short of the green, awaits.

Hole 17 - Par 3 (White 99m, Blue 84m, Black 116m)

The shortest hole on the course, but at its highest point. The green isn't large, so with the wind swirling will you take out a full blooded wedge, or will you elect to pitch?

Hole 18 - Par 4 (White 296m, Blue 316m, Black 316m)

A drivable par 4 to finish, back down the mountain towards the clubhouse. A semi-split fairway heads to the green, with a bunker protecting the path, but eagle is easily gettable, as is bogey if you muck it up.

[mctrees02]

I played here this morning and I think this would be a great course for WhatAboutAmeobi to play on stream. You continue to make good progress in your designs and getting feedback from others should only strengthen your future work.

[strangi17]

Jul 3, 2021 9:48:07 GMT -5 mctrees02 said:

I played here this morning and I think this would be a great course for WhatAboutAmeobi to play on stream. You continue to make good progress in your designs and getting feedback from others should only strengthen your future work.

Thanks for the feedback. I'd absolutely welcome that and I'm keen on any advice to improve.

[ashsimmonds]

Jul 3, 2021 6:11:47 GMT -5 strangi17 said:

Introducing my new course, Roy's Peak.

Hi strangi17 - I used to live in Wanaka and have done a critique of your course, along with a ton of local insider info and pics and vids and stories.

Hope I wasn't too harsh, but it's a place close to my heart so I was excited to play it, and hope my criticism is constructive.

 - 

[strangi17]

Jul 3, 2021 22:33:43 GMT -5 ashsimmonds said:

Jul 3, 2021 6:11:47 GMT -5 strangi17 said:

Introducing my new course, Roy's Peak.

Hi strangi17 - I used to live in Wanaka and have done a critique of your course, along with a ton of local insider info and pics and vids and stories.

Hope I wasn't too harsh, but it's a place close to my heart so I was excited to play it, and hope my criticism is constructive.

 - 

Hey, thanks for that mate.

Brutal, but I did enjoy it. My whole family is from Wanaka so I do actually know the place well. But this was a case of taking a concept and running with it. I mean clearly there isn't a golf course up Roy's Peak, no access roads, no buildings, no resort, etc etc. Also, I'd love to have had Lake Wanaka, or to have made a course in Wanaka, but the designer is limited with the backgrounds, etc, so it was never an option. Gotta work with what you have.

It's a shame you didn't enjoy it but it's great you love the region so much!

[ashsimmonds]

Jul 3, 2021 23:43:20 GMT -5 strangi17 said:

Brutal, but I did enjoy it. My whole family is from Wanaka so I do actually know the place well. But this was a case of taking a concept and running with it.

Cool man. I was especially harsh on it going in because it's like watching a movie based on a book you loved, if you know what I mean.

Reckon I said all I needed to in the vid. Again, not ragging on you, I know how difficult it is to build something great - as demonstrated I've been tinkering for two frickin years on my Wanaka course and it's barely 10% done, so good for you on getting something out there.

[smudge22]

I'm a really poor player so it really battered me.

I don't mind though - still enjoyed my round.

[WhatAboutAmeobi]

I'm going to play this on stream today.

[strangi17]

Jul 8, 2021 5:53:07 GMT -5 WhatAboutAmeobi said:

I'm going to play this on stream today.

Thank you for playing the course. Lots to take out of it. Punishing watching at 5am my time but fortunately I had the early start at work anyway!

The main takeaway was, add more Biarritz...